Broccoli May Hold the Key to Treating Type 2 Diabetes

Science is amazing: researchers have found that a compound in broccoli could help slow and potentially reverse, type 2 diabetes in obese people, according to a new study in the journal Science Translation Medicine.

Related: One Third of the World is Overweight and the U.S. Tops the Charts

For the study, researchers found and focused on 50 genes that cause symptoms commonly associated with type 2 diabetes. They also found a compound called sulforapphane (a naturally occurring compound in cruciferous veggies like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage) hypothesizing that it could “turn down the expression of those genes” – or slow or reverse them.

They gave sulforaphane (in the form of a concentrated broccoli extract) to obese patients and found that it improved the patients’ ability to control their glucose levels and it reduced their glucose. Those are two major symptoms of diabetes that lead to heart disease, nerve damage, and more.

This is huge news. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and it affects hundreds of millions of people around the world. It makes it hard for the body to regulate or produce insulin, in turn making it hard for the body to control blood sugar levels.

People with type 2 diabetes are advised to make substantial lifestyle changes, focusing on diet, and pair that with a drug treatment. But not all people are eligible for all medications and medications can sometimes come with nasty side effects. This research is a step in finding new treatments.

And a reminder to us all to eat our veggies.